MML feedhttp://www.mmlonline.org/discussionsMML feedDo you agree with Government on imposing taxes especially the newly proposed taxes on goods and services.(Mat 20th-June20th)/discussions/45<p style="text-align: justify;">According to the Ministry of Finance, Government has proposed increase in taxes on fuel, cooking oil, local wines to boost revenue collection. The proposed taxes are additions to the existing taxes on Local Hotel Tax provided for by the Local Government Act Cap 243, the rental tax which URA said is provided for under section 5 of the Income Tax Act, introduction of Sh. 200,000 on motorcycles at first registration, 15% tax on money transfer or withdrawal services, a tax on incoming International calls of $0.09%, tax on social media where the president said social media platforms like facebook, whatsapp, etc keep people idle and should be taxed, etc. These <strong></strong>taxes especially the Local Hotel Tax was introduced in order to regulate hotels activities within the urban authorities and to raise revenue to enable the urban authorities to offer services such as street lighting, roads &amp; drainage maintenance, garbage collections, etc. The new taxes are before parliament and the Bills will be discussed and approved by parliament during the budget approval period and will become law effective July 1, 2018 when the new financial year begins.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>2018-05-24 08:17:21What can be done to curb the increased wetland destruction in the country?(Deadline 31st May 2018)/discussions/44<p style="text-align: justify;">According to the Global Water Partnership in East Africa, Uganda loss approximately 15% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due to the destruction of its natural resources such as wetlands. Wetlands destruction a lone costs Uganda nearly 2billions shillings annually and contamination of water resources which is partly caused by reduced buffering capacity of open water bodies costs Uganda nearly 38billion annually. This is coupled with other ecological impacts such as those related to wetland misuse. Many people still encroach wetlands for personal gains and have been left untouched despite public concern on global warming.</p>2018-05-01 11:23:04What needs to be changed in the operations of OWC program for efficient and effective service delivery?(Deadline 31st May 2018)/discussions/43<p style="text-align: justify;">The national Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) coordinator Gen Salim Saleh on 10<sup>th</sup> April 2018 in a meeting with local government chairpersons in the country signed a special memorandum of understanding to enhance commercial agriculture such that the role of each stakeholder can be defined as they seek to partner and foster operation wealth creation program in Uganda. The rationale behind the partnership was to explore areas of mutual interest for effective cooperation in the fight against poverty through modern agriculture initiatives<strong>. </strong>However, the program according to many is yet to achieve it&rsquo;s intended objective especially involving beneficiaries in the planning stages to counterfeit wastage of resources when it comes to delivery of what was not ordered by the beneficiaries and sometimes being delivered when the planting season is ending or has ended.</p>2018-05-01 11:21:06What can the government of Uganda through the ministry of health do to increasingly prevent and curb the threat of Malaria in the country?(Deadline 31st May 2018)/discussions/42<p style="text-align: justify;">On 25/04/2018 Uganda joined the Global Malaria community in commemorating World Malaria Day 2018 at Mpigi Police Grounds in Mpigi District under the global theme &ldquo;Ready to Beat Malaria&rdquo; and local slogan, &ldquo;My mosquito Net, my night time weapon.&rdquo;. The theme highlights the collective energy and commitment of the Global Malaria Community involved in the fight against the deadly disease while the slogan was selected against the background that Government of Uganda just concluded a Universal Coverage Campaign where a total of 27 million mosquito nets were distributed countrywide but Malaria has continued to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in many tropical regions of the world despite global efforts to eradicate the disease While the disease is easily preventable, curable and treatable, it remains a big health threat to many communities the world over.</p>2018-05-01 11:18:38What can our leaders in Uganda do to curb corporal punishments against children in schools? (Dead line May 31st 2018) /discussions/41<p style="text-align: justify;">In the late 90s, the ministry of Education took a decision to ban corporal punishment in schools by issuing a policy document abolishing the practice. Later, the practice was banned in all schools and colleges in 2006. Perhaps suggesting the mindset within the education sector leadership, the 2006 decision was taken close to 10 years after June 10, 1997, circular communicating a temporary ban on the same.&ldquo;Banning corporal punishment is timely as Uganda joins the rest of the African countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Swaziland and South Africa in making schools safer, rights-based and child-friendly. Inspite of all those the issue of corporal punishments is still reported in schools around the country and even other African countries. Ugandans should not &lsquo;spare the rod and spoil the child&rsquo; but instead &lsquo;spoil the rod and spare the child&rsquo;.<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>2018-05-01 11:14:28How can Uganda achieve sustainable development goal number 4 which ensures inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning despite those challenges affecting education sector?(30th April)/discussions/40<p>According to Bridge International Academies, 2017 shows that they are many challenges that cause real damage to learning outcomes in Uganda such as gender inequality, child labour, early marriages, less motivated teachers, dropout and poverty are among the most persistent challenges affecting education standards in Uganda.</p>2018-04-03 12:06:18What can the government of Uganda do to address poverty challenges at household levels?(Dead line 30th April)/discussions/39<p style="text-align: justify;">The Uganda bureau of statistics 2016/2017, Uganda national household survey 2016/2017 report indicates that the poverty rates increased to 21.4% from 19.7% in 2012/2013 despite government efforts to reduce it.</p>
<p><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: 'SF Regular', 'Segoe System UI Regular', 'Segoe UI Regular', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.2px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #1686d9; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;">&nbsp;</span></p>2018-04-03 10:44:38What can the government of Uganda do to address poverty challenges at household levels?(Deadline 30th April)/discussions/38<p style="text-align: justify;">According to International Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), an NGO that is a leading source of news, data and analysis on internally displaced persons (IDP&rsquo;s) worldwide, an average of 12000 Ugandans were displaced by floods and other natural disasters between the year 2006 to 2016.The united nations development program says since 2007 to date, 3.6 million Ugandans have been affected by natural disasters. Environment experts warns that floods will continue to impact negatively on the country, unless there are long drown out efforts to strengthen the country&rsquo;s disaster preparedness and management capacities.</p>2018-04-03 09:50:11What measures can be put in place by NEMA to protect environmental conservation in Uganda(Deadline 30th April)/discussions/36<p style="text-align: justify;">A joint water and environment sector review report released last year revealed that Uganda&rsquo;s forest cover has dropped to 9% a sharp fall from 11% in 2015.The same report indicated that the country&rsquo;s wet land cover has reduced to less than 10%.the disappearing of wetlands, forests, lakes and rivers are some of the natural features that influence natural rainfall formation and regulation of floods.</p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>2018-04-03 09:42:12How can Uganda address malnutrition challenge both in urban and rural communities?(Deadline 30th April)/discussions/35<p>According to 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey malnutrition still exists in both health and poor household in Uganda. This is an indication that more income at the household level does not always lead to better diet or health practice. The survey found out that more than two million children in Uganda are stunted. A figure unacceptable even though stunting decreased from 33% in 2011 to 29% in 2016.</p>2018-04-03 09:39:03How can the challenges affecting health sector in Uganda be addressed/discussions/34<p style="text-align: justify;">According to World Bank assessment report November 19, 2013 on Quality of Uganda&rsquo;s Education and Health services, Uganda has made progress on maternal health but there remain gaps despite record investment over the past years. Uganda&rsquo;s health care performance is still ranked as one of the worst however, there is a decline on Infant Mortality rate from 54 deaths per 1000 live birth in 2011 to 43 deaths per 1000 live births in 2016 according to Uganda Bureau of Statistics ( UBOS) Indicator report for the sixth Demographic and Health Survey 2016.Today a major public complaint about Uganda&rsquo;s health system is that there are always limited drugs in government run hospitals, shortage of trained health workers, absenteeism of health workers, and inadequate health facilities&nbsp; &nbsp;among others.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Question.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">How can the challenges affecting health sector in Uganda be addressed?</p>2018-03-07 13:28:58Will the change of top security personnel address the issue of insecurity in Uganda? (Deadline 31st March 2018)/discussions/33<p style="text-align: justify;">According to media reports some parts of Uganda have had cases of insecurity and some lives have been lost. The Daily monitor news paper of March 5<sup>th</sup> 2018 reports reshuffle of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Minister of Security in the country and new appointees made awaiting parliament&rsquo;s approval.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Question.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Will the change of top security personnel address the issue of insecurity in Uganda?</p>2018-03-07 09:59:02What should be done to achieve Uganda’s vision before 2040? (Deadline 31st March 2018)/discussions/32<p style="text-align: justify;">Uganda&rsquo;s vision 2040 provides development paths and strategies to operationalize Uganda&rsquo;s vision statement which is &ldquo; A Transformed Ugandan society from a peasant to a modern and prosperous county within 30 years&rdquo; as approved by the cabinet in 2017.It aims at transforming Uganda from a predominantly peasant and low income country to a competitive upper middle income country.&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Questions.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>What should be done to achieve Uganda&rsquo;s vision before 2040?</em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>2018-03-07 09:53:18What can be done to curb down child marriage and early pregnancies especially in school on-going pupils?(Deadline 31st March 2018)/discussions/31<p style="text-align: justify;">Toro Development Network (ToroDev), a non government organization based in Fort Portal initiated District local government-CSO&rsquo;s forum meetings in Rwenzori region with an aim of coordinating CSO&rsquo;s in the districts to plan and budget together with district local governments to improve service delivery. Since 2015 the forum meetings are held quarterly where CSO&rsquo;s report on the achievements and challenges encountered during the implementation of their activities in that quarter as well as sharing reports from district line departments. On 21<sup>st</sup> February 2018 a follow up meeting was held in Kyenjojo district and according to the remarks from the Assistant Chief Administrative Officer(ACAO) Madam Kajumba Enid and the District Education Officer (DEO) Madam Tibakanya Gertrude, early marriage and teenage pregnancies have increased the rate of school drop outs hence affecting education sector in the district.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Question.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">What can be done to curb down child marriage and early pregnancies especially in school on-going pupils?</p>2018-03-07 09:47:32What should be done to restore the forest cover in Uganda?(Deadline;28th February 2018)./discussions/30<p style="text-align: justify;">According to public engagements coordinated by ToroDev, citizens have raised concerns about the rate at which the environment is being degraded baring in mind practices like tree cutting, cultivation in wet lands, etc. they are normally cleared by rich people who want to do their personal developments including infrastructure development, charcoal, furniture &amp; paper, etc without considering the future impact to the community members. Experts tell us that without forests, rain patterns change, animals are displaced and humanity in general is threatened. Additionally, the Nations Television Uganda (NTV) reported on February 11, 2018 run an investigative documentary on how Mabira Forest, the largest in Uganda, is being degraded by unknown loggers and timber extraction individuals, just to mention but some.<br /> <br /> There have been a number of international and local movements that have been created to restore Uganda&rsquo;s forest cover. However, there needs to be more action taken from different actors to ensure forests countrywide are protected and that there are more tree planting initiatives.&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Question.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">What should be done to restore the forest cover in Uganda?</p>2018-02-08 11:11:24According to you, which sector should be given priority in the 2018/19 national budget?(Deadline:28th February 2018)/discussions/28<p style="text-align: justify;">The Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) believes that Citizens of Uganda should be given the opportunity to participate in debating priorities for Uganda&rsquo;s national budget. We want to hear what you think is most important to your own development in this financial year.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Question.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">According to you, which sector should be given priority in the 2018/19 national budget?(Deadline:28<sup>th</sup> February 2018)</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>2018-02-08 10:40:04What should the government of Uganda do to ensure that there is availability of safe and clean water in communities according to the SDG target by 2030?(Deadline:28th,February 2018)/discussions/27<p style="text-align: justify;">According to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Goal 6; Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and Sanitation for all, there is a target that &nbsp;by 2030 there will be &nbsp;substantially increase in water-use efficiency across all sectors and sustainable supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity. Only about 5% of households have piped water supplies on their premises in rural areas in Sub &ndash;Sahara Africa (UN report 2015). &nbsp;To achieve the SDG target of 100% coverage, it requires time and continued support for the sustainability of community water facilities as a priority. Uganda in the last ten (10) years has made substantial progress in the water supply system with the expansion of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation and efforts to upgrade water system in many regions, Yet there are still many communities, in both rural and urban areas, who rely on contaminated water sources such as open wells and streams. Only 65% of the population has access to safe water sources (UN report 2015). &ldquo;The human right to water entitles everyone to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic uses" <br /> Question</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">What should the government of Uganda do to ensure that there is availability of safe and clean water in communities according to the SDG target by 2030?(Deadline:28 February 2018)</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>2018-02-08 10:35:11What should be done to stop health workers’ absenteeism in your health facility?(Deadline:28th/February/2018) /discussions/24<p style="text-align: justify;">Full-time availability of health workers at a health facility is essential, that is why they work in shifts for provision of quality health services.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Health facility in-charges are supposed to develop and display a list of health workers scheduled to be on duty and off-duty on the health facility notice board for the benefit of patients who come for treatment. This mandatory practice is however not followed in some health facilities and many citizens especially those who seek for health services in government health facilities have on many occasions complained about health worker&rsquo;s absenteeism.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Question</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">What should be done to stop health workers&rsquo; absenteeism in your health facility?<br /> <br /> </p>2018-02-08 10:17:23What is the main reason for girls dropping out of schools?(Deadline:28th Febfruary 2018)/discussions/23<p style="text-align: justify;">In 1997 the Government of Uganda launched the Universal Primary Education (UPE) program. The 1999 enrollment data collected by the headcount exercise and the school census of 2000 demonstrate that the program has been successful in increasing enrollment rates both for boys and girls. More than 6 million pupils were enrolled in primary education in 1999. However, available information suggests that there are high rates of dropout to the extent that only about 39% of the children that enrolled in primary one in 1997 managed to get to primary five in 2001.High levels of absenteeism, repetition, transfers and non-enrollment have also been observed.The study was commissioned by the Ministry of Education and Sports and implemented by Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR). In 2012, the school&nbsp;dropout&nbsp;rate was at a staggering 71% in the primary level of education. And data from the ministry of health indicated that the dropouts were higher for girls than for the boys.<br /> <br /> <strong>Question.</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">What is the main reason for girls dropping out of schools?</p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</h2>2018-02-08 10:06:53What is the status of Access to Safe & Clean Water in your community/district? (Deadline: 31st January 2018)/discussions/22<p style="text-align: justify;">Uganda&rsquo;s Ministry of Water &amp; Environment (2016) says as of June 2016, the average access to safe water in rural areas was estimated at 67% (which is 2% increase from 65% as of June 2015). Communities need however to be sensitized on hygienic practices in order to maintain a safe water chain from the source up to storage at the household level. The functionality for rural water supplies had however reduced to 86%, from the 88% which was reported in June 2015.&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">On the other hand, WaterAid (2017) says more than 23&nbsp;million people still do not have clean water. Much of Uganda is open water and swampland, but this is undrinkable. Meanwhile, high demand and poor management lead to shortages of clean groundwater &ndash; facilities are under strain in towns and cities, and the springs and wells that rural communities rely on are mostly used up.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>2017-12-20 08:28:40Doctors on strike in Uganda - What is your opinion?/discussions/21<p>The Uganda Medical Association (UMA) has called for a nation-wide industrial action. Since the 6<sup>th</sup> of November, doctors are on strike under the slogan &ldquo;Fix health or the stethoscopes are rested&rdquo;. On the 9<sup>th</sup> of November UMA announced:</p>
<p>&ldquo;We are Striking for Citizens<br />====================<br />As Doctors we regrete the Unfortunate Statement from MoH regarding this ongoing Strike. For example look at our 3 Issues being raised.<br />1-Medical Supply should improve so that you don't buy drugs and gloves from out. This will reduce death from emergencies and motivate us to work.<br />2-Disband HMU which has taken over the role of UMDPC. We need professional sanity in Uganda' health-care.<br />3-Improvement in our Welfare. Sincerely a Dr getting 280$ (960,000Ugx) per month is not accepted. This results into frequent absentism so that mothers bleed to death before the Dr could arrive timely.<br />We equally think other cardres like Nurses, laboratory people, Imaging, clinical officers and other cadres be paid well to improve care for Ugandans.<br />Uganda's annual Lost to corruption is 300,000,000USD, we are asking for 8% of such loss.<br />200-300Billion is used by MPs and Minister to be treated in India. Sincerely why can't we allocate 9%, 12% and 15% to Health&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>In a press release on the 11<sup>th</sup> of November, Uganda&rsquo;s Minister of Health, Jane Ruth Aceng responded to the industrial action. She declared the strike to be illegal since UWA is not a trade union and that the law of Uganda only allows registered unions to call for a strike:<br />&ldquo;The Uganda Medical Association is not a registered trade union and cannot enjoy the rights, immunities and privileges provided under the <u>labour</u> unions Act, as the only accrue to registered unions&rdquo;<br />Further Aceng declares &ldquo;&hellip; The involvement of UMA in influencing the public service activities by calling on doctors to strike is illegal and should cease henceforth and perpetuators should be treated as trespassers&rdquo;.<br />Aceng also announces that &ldquo;All Medical Workers who are misled to join the strike must resume duty with immediate effect&rdquo;<br />Read the whole press release here <a href="http://health.go.ug/download/file/fid/1697">http://health.go.ug/download/file/fid/1697</a></p>
<p><strong>Q1: What is your view of the strike? &nbsp;</strong><br /><strong>Q2: Is the strike justified?</strong><br /><strong>Q3: How can the conflict be solved?</strong>&nbsp;</p>2017-11-14 09:23:37Village (LC I) and Parish (LC II) Elections 2017 in Uganda/discussions/20<p>Free and fair elections are central to our democracy. It is every citizen&rsquo;s responsibility to understand the electoral process and have a say. For over 10 years now, Uganda has not conducted elections for local council 1s and 2s. However, there is a program of having the exercise done on 21st of November and 7th of December 2017 (See full program <a href="../information/2">here</a>).</p>
<p>Q1: Have you registered to participate in the elections?</p>
<p>Q2: What is your opinion about the local council elections?</p>2017-11-08 14:30:15The Issue of Improving Access to Safe Water & Sanitation Service Delivery in Nakuru County, Kenya (Deadline: January 31st, 2018)/discussions/19<p>Now since the 2017 Electioneering Process is Complete in Kenya, the country and counties are going back to implementing service delivery. Among many functions, the water &amp; sanitation department in Nakuru is mandated to provide the following services (Nakuru County, 2017);</p>
<ul>
<li>Planning ,Survey and mapping, conservation, development&nbsp; and management of water resources in Nakuru County</li>
<li>Operation and maintenance of all water resources</li>
<li>Development and Interpretation of Water and Sanitation Policies</li>
<li>Providing Guidance and Technical Advice on research, development and technologies in Water Management</li>
<li>Quality Control and Monitoring of water</li>
<li>Water Pollution Control and Monitoring</li>
<li>Ground Water Management</li>
<li>Survey, Design and Construction of water and sewerage systems</li>
<li>Water and Sanitation services<strong><em>Question:</em></strong></li>
</ul>
<p>Do you think the county has fulfilled the above functions in the water &amp; sanitation sector? What more issues do you want to see prioritized by political contenders during this general election, specifically in the water &amp; sanitation sector in the county?</p>2017-05-23 14:12:43Role of Land in Supporting Economic Development: Views about the current Comission of Inquiry on Land Matters in Uganda (Deadline: January 31st, 2018)/discussions/17<p>President Museveni in February 2017 commissioned an inquiry into land matters in Uganda, led by Hon. Lady Justice Catherine Bamugemereire, which started work in May 2017. The Commission of Inquiry, among other issues is to look into the effectiveness of the law and processes of land acquistion, administration, management and registration in Uganda.</p>
<p><em><strong>Question:</strong></em></p>
<p>What priority issues should be prioritized by this Commission of Inquiry of Land matters in your Region?</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>2017-05-23 09:18:50Uganda is now in the 2018/2019 Budgeting Process. In your opinion, how can Universal Primary Education Programme be Improved? What should be Prioritized in this in the next UPE budget? (Deadline: January 31st, 2018)/discussions/16<p>In 1997 the Ugandan government introduced the UPE programme in order to imporve enrolment and attendance of learners in schools. According to the analysis of figures from UNEB and Education &amp; Sports sector annual reports (ESSAPR, 2017), over 5 million children of school going age in Uganda have dropped out of school before P.7 in the last 20 years. In 15 years (8 primary school cycles) over 4.9 million pupils, about 42.6% of the 11.5 million who started, dropped out.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em><strong>Question:</strong></em></p>
<p>What Policy (policies) should government enact to improve effective and efficient UPE program in Uganda?</p>
<p><strong><em>(Respond directly by registering and logging on to this system online or through Mobile SMS using your phone. Deadline: December 05, 2017)</em></strong></p>2017-05-23 09:07:43